For the mothers-to-be (especially first timers), you all aware that your pregnancy is pretty much about your baby – the joy of it grows inside you, the love it creates, and the positive vibes that just keeps coming when people notice how you look so different (in a good way, of course!) with the so-called glowing skin associated with pregnancy. But suddenly a big acne pop on the top of your nose. What gives?

The truth is, not all of preggers are lucky to have an angel bestowing the good looks upon you when you’re about to have a baby. Some of us might be unfortunate enough to suffer from certain skin issues that have their own name, like pregnancy acne, for example.

To quote from a skin therapist at babycenter.com, the acne that you get during pregnancy is purely hormonal and it’s quite understandable to have it (though I know you wouldn’t want to!) and eventually your skin will come back to normal.

Of course, there are ways to treat these red poppers though a certain consideration needs to be met before using them, as certain ingredients are not conclusive when it comes to their safety and effect to the baby.

Generally speaking, most skin care products that are non-prescripted are safe to use during pregnancy, though it’s quite understandable that you might be concerned with preservatives and additives added in the formulation.

If that’s the case, then it’s highly encouraging that you switch to organic options as the stuff will certainly have none of the preservatives (or additives, colourings, fragrances, etc.) added into the product. Especially for acne, you might want to avoid products containing Benzoyl Peroxide, Salicylic Acid, and Isotretinoin, to name a few; and switch to the glycolic acid or other AHA-derived products to fade that acne.

All in all, don’t forget to team up your acne-buster application with a healthy diet. Foods that are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and essential fatty acids are a good start, as they provide essential nutrients to neutralise toxins within you, which in turn help to heal your troubled-skin.

And don’t’ forget plenty of water as it really helps to flush all of the toxins out. My advice, avoid caffeinated beverages during these joyful times and stick with green tea if you want a cuppa (2 cups a day!).

Simply taking a proactive action and be safe as much as possible will certainly help you to get the acne-free and glowing skin that you love to have, while minimising risks of your bundle of joy to get unwanted side effects, as much as possible. Trust me, you don’t want to keep wondering if what you take into your skin will in turn makes the childbirth process complicated for no reason.

Common misconception seems to think that only the rich people can maintain the youthfulness of their skin, even as they’re entering into senior years. Well, the truth is not really. As long as you take a really good care of your skin and cover the basic and essential part religiously, I don’t see why not; even anybody of us can get their own healthy and clear skin with simple tips.

Your beauty comes from within and it’s not as simple as dabbing makeup in place and the right way is to ensure that your body gets everything it needs, right from the healthy mix of vitamins, minerals, and fibers, enough of fluids, as well as limiting any intakes of food and beverages that will only add more toxins to your body. Simply put, what you have inside will eventually shows up on the outside.

Plus, getting enough of vitamins and minerals is also essential to help your body to produce stuff in keeping your skin looking smooth and ever-so youthful such as collagen fibers, as well as skin healing (due to acne or pigmentations), neutralizing free radicals as much as possible, and improving blood circulation.

There’s no question; whatever stuff that are not supposed gets onto your skin needs to be purged out immediately, via cleansing and/or exfoliating. Washing your skin (that includes your face and body) is important to purge out all the dirt, debris, impurities, and even makeups that get stuck onto your skin, and the key is to do it as gently as possible.

After washing them thoroughly, the next logical step is to keep your skin hydrated and moisturized as much as possible. Rub and lather the right moisturizer fir for your skin type to keep them nourished. Hint: dry skin is one of the factors that lead to premature ageing. This is especially important during the winter months when your skin is the driest. You can read up on more winter skin tips from here.

Plus, don’t forget ample amounts of sunscreen to keep your skin protected from the damaging effects of UV rays. Trust me, long term of exposure to these rays can be quite devastating and you need not to be as one of their statistics, which you can read up on here. Simple habits call for; using a good sunscreen daily, staying indoors when the sun is the brightest, as well as avoiding tanning beds as well. If you love to have a tan, get yourself some self-tanner instead.

And of course, all in all with these tips, you can see how your skin improving dramatically within a month (that’s how long your skin starts to adapt and really change for you to see the difference) and the key is consistency. Heck, even the most pricey skin care line (think Sisley or La Mer) is ineffective if you only use it once in a year. So keep on doing the tips mentioned and you’ll see what I mean.

The Botox have the good and the bad side – at first, it’s treated like the holy grail of anti-aging where you could erase the wrinkles with a few shots. After a while, pictures and news starts to come out, featuring the ‘frozen foreheads’ and shiny skin – and the worse part that it happens even among the celebs. And now, new insights and development have been promising to understand how it works and the efficacy of using Botox shots for the skin.

Current findings and understanding how botulinum neurotoxins interacts with the cells is indeed helping the scientists and beauty experts alike to develop a safer approach when using the drug, as well as knowing how botulism can happen to your body, by designing certain inhibitors or antibodies that can work their way to bind the receptors to prevent any unwanted interaction.

Side effects of Botox can be dangerous to your life and that includes problems with swallowing, breathing, or speaking as the toxins is spreading to other parts unintentionally, due to the weakening of related muscles and nerves. Plus the fact that these neurotoxins can last quite long in your body (though the effects can wear off), you need to be extra careful if you’re taking too much, too frequently.

Though reported side effects is until now is extremely low, the findings is considered to be essential as nowadays you’re not using Botox for wrinkles and sagging eyelids – stroke, overactive bladder’s syndrome, Parkinson’s, cerebral palsy, and even depression use Botox as part of the treatment.

The bacteria used in Botox is known as Clostridium botulinum and produces neurotoxins, which means it binds themselves to our neurons and releasing toxin inside the cell, triggering a domino-like reaction where it stops acetylcholine from being produced, a neurotransmitter essential to signal the nerve to form a muscle – too much of it, or at the wrong place like your lungs can be fatal.

So yeah, the trait of preventing certain muscle to move can be helpful, especially with aging skin when used correctly. The key is to choose the right doctor that is experience in these risky procedures so you can avoid being one of the unfortunates.

And now, with the latest insights concerning with Botox is now being addressed, we can be assure that you’ll have a peace with your mind, should you need to get the shot, sooner or later.

Buying a lot beauty products here and there claimed to be the ‘latest’ ‘most innovative’ and ‘latest discovery’ isn’t going to help you (and your skin) a lot, it might cost you a substantial amount of money anyway. The real deal should come from diligent research and knowing what really compatible with your skin (you know that retinol is not really for everyone, right?). Read on, here’s what dermatologists got to say when it comes to choosing the right skin care products.

There’s a big balloon of myths that people have indirectly feel that pricey stuff (you can look under ‘splurge’ label in magazines) is the one you should go for if you want quick and noticeable results. Well, the case is not entirely true – there is a couple of excellent stuff that won’t burn a hole in your pocket, for less than thirty-odd-dollars. Like I said, a diligent research will certainly save you a lot of money.

Marketing is indeed a powerful tools, they can influence you to think that anything that are in sophisticated packaging with exotic stuff is entirely new and it’s the latest discovery that you just gotta try it out (I remember when the buzz is all about garcinia cambogia, when Dr.Oz gushes over it, when you can practically find them in herbal health shops) but the reality is it’s already been in the market for a long time. Again, do some reading and see if the stuff is actually a timeless classic, with proven track records.

Beauty companies spend a lot on their research department (in terms of millions, thank you), though you might want to be aware that you need to know what kind of research they’ve been doing. If it means by marketing and selling products, it’s a good idea to find other products by other companies. If they’re diligent (there’s the word again) doing the work to ensure their customers get the best, every single time then by hook or crook, use them all the time.

Don’t be fooled by marketing hype that if anything that’s good for your stomach means it’s good to apply onto the skin (in the form of creams and lotions), not necessarily true, as the component may have react with preservatives and emulsifiers, and coupled with our natural oils, that’s where other ingredients is needed to counter the effect. For example, we all know how vitamin D is good for your health, and keeping your skin moist and young; just don’t trust wholeheartedly that d-alpha-tocopherol (a synthetic form of vitamin E) in the cream will work the same.

Packed and straight to the point, these rules should be hammered into mind whenever you’re out to shop for a new cream.

So you just got yourself a laser tattoo removal and thank goodness it went well. And now, it’s all about pampering your skin to speed up healing process as well as to minimize any side effects (getting burn with a high intensity laser is big thing, you know). Read on, here’s what you are going to do to keep your skin in check.

Immediately after the laser treatment, a dressing will be applied to the treated area and should be left in place until tomorrow, unless there is some blister develops. No matter how curious you are, please don’t poke on the dressing.

Possible discomfort is normal and it happens within 12-24 hours, with the sensation is similar to mild sunburn and it will subside naturally. Be very careful when handling the treated area and you shouldn’t touch it unnecessarily. if it itch a hydrocortisone should help.

Hygiene aspects are extremely important as the chance of getting infected is high at this moment, by washing the area with warm water and mild, antiseptic soap twice a day. Your doctor will prescribe a topical antibiotic cream and you should use it as well.

Scabbing or blistering is also possible ad it’s essential that you don’t poke at it, rather letting your skin heal itself (unless you want a permanent scar to develop). Keep the area moist and supple topical application of prescribed topical cream like Hybrisil, aloe vera and/or olive oil can certainly help to nourish and soothe irritated skin, until the crusting is gone.

The same rule also apply, should there is blood oozing out from the blisters – clean them thoroughly and gently and apply the necessary topical ointment.

Like a sunburn skin, you should keep the treated area covered well and avoid sun exposure on the early days post operation, as long as three months as your skin is quite fragile. Even a sunscreen is not enough to provide protection and the only topical cream that can be beneficial is the use of zinc oxide that blocks UV ray from entering the area. Keep in mind that sun protection is extremely important and you or the skin will have unwanted color changes on the area.

A follow up treatments may be needed should the tattoo doesn’t fade as quick as expected, and you may need to schedule it within two to three months.

A note to remember; should you work on anything that involves on the removed tat, be aware to avoid any friction on the healed skin as much as possible, to let the area heal nicely and smoothly. The same rule also applies if you’re working out (stick to laid back types like Pilates to avoid any accidents).

Sounds a lot to remember, doesn’t it? Though it’s certainly a worthwhile, after the last remnants of the last tattoo will disappear nicely.

Okay, so you get acne from doing a couple or two ‘sins in skin care’ (we all do) but keep in mind that another reason is the genetics can be the factor (a major one) in your vulnerability for acne. Read on and let me show you how this wonderful treatment can help you get a clear skin in a zap!

Breakouts occur because of certain tendency of your skin that makes your skin not to exfoliate as efficiently as we think. Instead of purging the dead cells off, your skin voluntarily puts the dead skin cells back into the pores, hence clogging the pores.

While the clogging of the pores doesn’t necessarily mean it turns into a big blast of zit, would you rather have the gunk sitting contentedly underneath the dermal layer. I doubt you would.

And no matter how much acne-fighting medications you have in your arsenal, if your genetics say so, there’s nothing you can do about it. And that’s where Isolaz Acne Treatment – they suck.

Well, not literally describing the whole treatment but rather I’m stressing how the treatment works, generally. Isolaz Acne Treatment is painless, acne (any type of acne, in fact) treatment works by using a vacuum and light therapy to clean, purify, disinfect, and heal acne in no time, which in turn helps to prevent future breakouts.

The treatment is approved by the FDA and good news – it’s suitable for all skin types, no matter how old you are. And it’s also suitable for any part of your body, as long as it has acne on it.

Basically, Isolaz works with two steps – vacuum and light therapy. Vacuum helps to loosen up the skin and extract the whole lot of dirt, impurities, dead skin cells sitting inside the pores while the light therapy works to kill acne-causing bacteria and reducing sebaceous gland to produce more oil than they should, hence future breakouts can be prevented. And I can assure you, it can be satisfying to see the whole gunk getting out from your skin for good.

The whole process is quite painless, with only a little bit of warm sensation. After the treatment, you can continue your daily activities as you wish – no downtime is a huge advantage especially if you need some impromptu treatment and the whole process only lasted within an hour!

I can safely say Isolaz Acne Treatment is the best way to give your skin some kind of second chance after continuous episodes of breakouts. Perhaps your skin will look so much better and clearer after the treatment.

Botox is no more confined to fashionistas and has gained popularity amongst every individual who wants to get rid of those scary frown lines, wrinkles and creases. Botox treatment uses injections botulinum toxin which works wonders in not just one thing. Botox helps in achieving more than just a smooth and wrinkle free skin. Many doctors or plastic surgeons are using Botox not only for treating wrinkle, but also to treat many other conditions. Here you can find such eight surprising uses for Botox that has made this treatment effective for more than just removing wrinkles.

1) Twitching Eyes – Botox treatment has shown results in curing the twitching eye problem or blepharospasm that causes the muscle around the eyes to twitch. A Patient suffering from uncontrollable blinking can suffer from distress, resulting in dry eyes.

2) Painful Sex – Many women suffer from very painful intercourse, and it is the reason botox must enter the bedroom to make things smooth. Botox treatment helps in loosening the tense or irritated muscles. The injections must be taken once in three months and is relatively painless procedure.

3) Squinting – Eye specialists have found the Botox injections useful in treating the squint eyes. Botox helps in balancing the muscles of the eye that enables to remove the squint. It is a useful procedure for those adults who could not treat it during their childhood.

4) Weight Loss – If you are trying to lose weight and have not yet succeeded, you can go for Gastric Botox. It is an endoscopic procedure which helps in relaxing muscles of the stomach to make the patient feel full quickly and for a long time. The procedure takes about 15 minutes and is an outpatient treatment.

5) Overactive Bladder – Doctors have studied its effect on various parts of the body that has muscle control. When a patient’s bladder muscle becomes overly active, it causes frequent urination. Sometimes, it is possible that they don’t reach the toilet in time. It is a distressful condition and difficult to treat. The injections of the toxin directly into the bladder wall can be effective, and the patient can lead a normal life.

6) Extreme Sweating – Patients undergoing Botox treatment found that they sweated less in the affected areas. Hence, Doctors have used this technique to treat people who suffer from excessive sweat. Such people resort ways like using cream and even surgery to get rid of this problem. Botox as been proven to be one of the best and safest hyperhidrosis treatment and also eliminating the need for surgery.

7) Migraines – It is observed in many patients who went for Botox as a cosmetic enhancement procedure experienced migraines less often. They have even reduced their medication and in some cases migraines got better too.

8) Depression – Botox is useful in treating the patients with depression. Doctors have used Botox injections in the forehead where muscles connect to the brain. It helps in preventing negative emotions to develop that may result in depression. So if you or your friend is suffering from depression, Botox may be a real option.

Aging can be a difficult and traumatic process in many ways, particularly for those who find that they have trouble accepting the changes in their physical appearance as aging sets in; from wrinkles and creases to sagging and fine lines, the ravages of both aging and sun damage can alter the face in a variety of ways and rob the skin of it’s supple, youthful appearance.

Dermal fillers are a facial rejuvenation solution which have become popular over the past several years; often called a ‘liquid facelift’, these fillers are derived from gel and/or liquid substances which are injected directly into wrinkles and which work by filling out the skin underneath and providing a boost in the volume which has been lost throughout the aging process.

Dermal fillers are administered by a highly qualified cosmetic surgeon during a quick, minimally invasive procedure and often perform very well, with results that can last anywhere from several months to more than ten years.

One of the most popular injectable fillers is Restylane, a gel substance derived from hyaluronic acid which is formed by the Streptococcus bacteria; Restylane is produced through advance biotechnology in a lab setting utilizing natural fermentation, with the sterile environment of the lab serving to ensure minimal risk of transmitting the disease to humans or of causing reactions in patients who are allergic to common foods.

How Restylane Works

Restylane is considered to be a safe and non-toxic facial rejuvenation treatment that works to significantly reduce the signs of aging by integrating itself into the deep tissue beneath the skin and binding to water molecules to both build and maintain volume.

The results of Restylane are visible immediately after the procedure and can last up to six months before requiring touchups, although longevity is also affected by the site of the injection and some may see results that last longer than six months, depending on the location of their injection.

Effectiveness

Restylane is considered to be very effective for moderate to severe wrinkles and creasing, particularly in facial areas such as the nasolabial folds; there have also been studies that indicate that the drug performs well in lip enhancement procedures.

Restylane is very popular on a global level, having been used in over 10 000 facial rejuvenation procedures in over 65 countries around the world.

Risks and Special Considerations

Restylane is not considered suitable for use in patients who have severe allergies to bacterial proteins, those with bleeding disorders or for any procedure other than facial or lip augmentation.

While there is no pre-treatment allergy test required for the procedure, there are a variety of possible side effects with the drug, most of which are extremely rare and not serious; potential side effects range from short term reactions at the site of the injection, swelling, pain and soreness, infection and a hard nodule appearing at the site.

If you experience any of these effects, contact your surgeon immediately to determine whether further treatment is needed; your cosmetic surgeon will take the time to discuss all potential risks and side effects before your procedure in order to be sure that all precautions are taken.

If you’re looking for a clinically proven, non-invasive solution to aging skin, be sure to contact your cosmetic surgeon today to discuss whether Restylane is a viable solution for your age-related skin issues.

Today we have teamed up with an expert doctor from the cosmetic dermatology field, here are some common questions relating to the popular dermal filler treatment:

Q. What’s a dermal filler?

A. A dermal filler is comprised of a soft gel that is injected into the face. The gel is made out of hyaluronic acid that is very similar to the acid the body produces naturally. These treatments are quite durable, but are not a permanent solution for your issues.

Typically, dermal fillers are recommended to patients who are trying to reduce their skin’s natural folds and wrinkles that occur over time, plus add volume to the skin.

Q. How does a dermal filler fix your face?

A. The hyaluronic acid injections add volume to the patient’s face. This effect is essentially instantaneous. It improves the skin’s long term prognosis by allowing for increased hydration. Upon completion of the injections, skin usually looks like much younger.

Q. How will a dermal filler benefit me?

A. Dermal fillers are an easy, non-invasive way for patients with wrinkles to remove their appearance. The face will immediately appear to be more youthful. Most importantly, the results of dermal fillers remain visible for up to nine months, which keeps a patient from having to make excessive visits to the doctor’s office.

Q. Is dermal filler treatment a safe procedure?

A. While no medical procedure is completely foolproof, dermal fillers and the acid associated with their use have rarely caused problems for patients. It behooves a dermal filler recipient to do their research and make sure that the doctor applying the injections is properly qualified.

Q. How much preparation is involved?

A. Each prospective dermal filler recipient visits their chosen physician for a consultation prior to the procedure. At this time, it is explained to the doctor what look you are going for and whether they can help you to achieve it. If it’s decided that these treatments can help, a thorough medical examination is performed, in addition to the providing of your medical history.

Q. How long does the treatment take?

A. Dermal filler treatments are among the most rapid. At most, your injections will take up to 30 minutes, at which point you are able to see immediate results. There is also no need to clear your schedule, as you can participate in normal activities immediately after the injections.

Q. Will I need anesthetic?

A. Each patient has a different pain threshold. However, most patients report only feeling a slight level of discomfort and do not require pain relief. If the injections are being applied into the lips and other sensitive areas, anesthetic may be required.

Q. What are the risks?

A. Risks are minimal, as procedural issues are quite rare. While there are natural side effects such as itchiness, swelling or bruising, these are all normal and are not a cause for alarm. Patients who are seeking enhancement for their lips should be advised that there is a period of significant swelling. Advice in this article was granted thanks to our partners at Advanced Dermatology who are experts in Botox in Sydney as well as Dermal Filler treatments.

Suffering from melanoma is no laughing matter. At one point you’ll notice some abnormal mole, next thing you know you’ve been told it’s melanoma. And as the disease is directly related to the skin, thorough skin care routine should be the utmost importance in your life. Read on these skin care tips specially created if you have melanoma.

It is extremely important that you take care of your skin (not just your face, we’re talking about your whole body here) so you don’t add any more odds to increase melanoma to spread out and/or getting another shot of the disease in near future.

Sun is the number one factor that you need to consider when it comes to melanoma and to put it simply; each and every of your skin care and makeup products should be formulated to protect the skin from sun rays. Plus, wearing adequate clothing that covers up the skin should also be considered essential (don’t worry, you can still get dressed up if you like when the night comes in).

After regular cleansing, using the right moisturizer is extremely important to provide you basic sun care protection. Choose moisturizer that have at least SPF15 and contained zinc oxide in their list of ingredients – zinc oxide provides adequate protection against UVA and UVB rays.

Specifically for beauty creams such as moisturizers, night cream, and serums; keep in mind to choose the products mentioned containing high amounts of anti-oxidants (such as Coenzyme Q-10, vitamin E/tocopherol derivatives, vitamin C/ascorbyl derivatives, or even green tea extracts) to boost your skin to heal itself at a quicker rate.

Begin the day by applying sunscreen to provide a thorough protection – choose that have SPF15 at least (just like moisturizer) complete with broad spectrum protection. It’s also a good idea to apply sunscreens with high SPF at all times (which all the more important if you’re planning to stay outdoors for an extended period of time).

As for makeup products – you guessed it – wear the kinds that included SPF in their list of ingredients as we need all the protection that we can get from the sun! Your best bet is to wear mineral makeup as they are made from pure pigments and ingredients and providing you adequate sun protection (thanks to zinc oxide packed into the formulation).

And of course, it can be a bit pointless to load up sun protection while wearing ‘exposed’ clothes – skip tank tops and mini short in favor of long sleeves and pants made from closed weave cotton. Wide brimmed hat and sunglasses is also a good idea to include (and can make a fashion statement!).

Melanoma is definitely not something to be taken lightly. And knowing the right steps in caring for the skin is all the more important during and after surviving melanoma.